Limit Testing

On a recent hike near Brighton Ski Resort, we hiked to Catherine Pass and enjoyed a view of Superior Peak, part of the Wasatch Range.

My daughter and family were with us on this hike.  She blogged about it here.  And she used this same photo!  I feel justified in re-using it, since it came out of MY camera!

Isn't this tree is an amazing survivor, growing in such inhospitable terrain?  We were too far away to be sure, but we think it's a limber pine, which often fills the ecological niche on high, windswept rocky cliffs:

No one paid any attention to the sign:

Is that a skull in the lower right corner? Whoa, that's harsh.

The sign rises high above the trail.  In winter, skiers standing on many feet of snow will see it at eye level.

Speaking of warnings, and rebels, look at these guys:

They had toes over the line.  No wonder Father Sky is looking angry:

For more skies, angry or glad, click here.

Boys and Toys

Here's the giant lawn mower in action: 
The neighborhood boys are fascinated.  Two of them are shown crammed into the cab in the photo above, but later there will be up to 4 males of all ages riding in the newest boy toy.

It even attracted an audience.  

To what's happening under a variety of skies from all over the world, click here.

The Eyes Know

The man in the sky is watching you!
And, frankly, he doesn't look too happy.

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Old Friends

When I saw these two trees, of approximately the same age, growing close together on a ridge, I was reminded of the Simon and Garfunkel song, "Old Friends".
The trees are different species, (Douglas Fir on the left, and Limber Pine on the right) but they've been sitting on this ridge "like bookends", companions through summer and winter, probably for well over 100 years.
They've seen a lot of things change as they hung out together, admiring the view.
But fortunately for them, in this remote location,
a lot has remained exactly the same.
Lyrics to song:

Old friends, old friends sat on their parkbench like bookends

A newspaper blowin' through the grass

Falls on the round toes of the high shoes of the old friends.

Old friends, winter companions, the old men

Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sun

The sounds of the city sifting through trees

Settles like dust on the shoulders of the old friends.

Can you imagine us years from today, sharing a parkbench quietly

How terribly strange to be seventy.

Old friends, memory brushes the same years, silently sharing the same fears.

A time it was
It was a time
A time of innocence
A time of confidences.
Long ago it must be
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories
They're all that's left you.

To view more skies from all over the world, click here.

Here Comes the Sun

Our winter days usually start out foggy, with hoarfrost on the trees.
On a mid-morning ski tour in the nearby "Cedars",
snow-covered rocks look like iced layer cake.
Distant mountains are a ghostly glow against the clearing sky.
As the sun comes out, even the weeds sparkle with their crystalline coating.
And Queen Daisy rules the wintry hills.

To view myriad skies from all over the world, click here.

A Gallop in the Snow

Even when the sky is gray, horses find something to be excited about - the sound of the neighbor's tractor, or a new herd of cows in the next pasture.
They frolick and play, kick up their heels and snort a bit.
Warmed by the exercise, they return to pawing the snow to reach the grass beneath.  They have plenty of hay, but their instinct to forage is strong.

To view ever-changing skies from around the world, click here.

Sunset Seasons

One of the biggest perks of our country living are the sunsets, and we have beauties all year long.
This one was taken in late December.
Here's one from late summer.  The flash illuminates alfalfa blooms.  Click to enlarge, and you may be able to distinguish Boss and Mischief in the pasture. (Boss's ears are silhouettes on the horizon.)

For views of the earth's loveliest skies, click here.

Deep Freeze

Like most of the U.S., eastern Utah is in the deep freeze.

That doesn't keep Daisy from enjoying a good frisbee romp.

The frost dusted aspens sparkle against a blue sky,

 while this bird house, cold and lonely, awaits new residents in spring.

For more skies, blue or gray, click here.

Available Until Spring

Cozy fixer-upper nests for lovebirds with growing family.  Excellent neighborhood. Reasonable rent!
Unfurnished. No central heat, but plenty of insulation. Great ventilation and lofty views.  

To view lovely skies from all over the world, click here.

Winter Wonderland

Our granddaughter chose to be born during the first good snowfall of the year.  We didn't take any photos of the weather on that dark and stormy night, but some glorious weather followed.    

A blue sky over the Wasatch Range's snow-covered peaks - even taken from a shopping center parking lot - is a glorious sight. 
To clarify, this is the view from a Salt Lake City parking lot (we were visiting the grandbaby and shopping in the big city this past week).  We see the mountains from Roosevelt, but they aren't as dramatically close. 

For more beautiful and varied sky views, click here.

The Eagle Has Flown

On a drive into the mountains this week, Steve noticed a large bird perched in an aspen.

I got out to sneak closer for a photograph, but it flew before I got very far.  It was a huge bird with a white tail.  Its head also appeared to be white. 

A bald eagle?  If so, it must have been migrating south, because it wasn't close to any body of water at that point.  Many bald eagles congregate along the Green River in the winter.  Perhaps that was its destination. 

Wherever it was headed, this bird certainly looked majestic as it flew over the mountainous landscape.

To view beautiful skies from around the world, click here.

Baum to the Spirits

The skies were mostly blue on a recent ride to Baum Lake (just off of the Tworoose Pass Trail, the scene of our recent Wrong Way Janie disorientation debacle).  The lake was frozen.  Breaking the thick ice to give Daisy and the horses a chance to drink was a challenge.

We managed to ride 19 miles and almost 4000 feet elevation gain and loss without misplacing anyone! 

This was November 10th at 10,500 feet.  As you can see, no snow.  Everyone seems to be looking a different direction, taking in a different view. 

Not too shabby, any way you look.

For a peek at skies from all over the world, click here.